ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Eastern University Baseball started the year 1-10. With an 8-7 home win over the no. 4 seed Widener University Pride (16-15) today, the Eagles advance int he postseason for the first time since 2015 and will get a shot at top-seeded York this coming weekend.

The win was not easy and featured multiple heroes.

Though the Eagles were home, as the no.5 seed, they were the designated guests on the scoreboard. The Eagles fell behind 2-0 after a Widener home run and an RBI single in the bottom of the second, but they bounced back to take the lead with three runs in the top of the third. Rookie right-fielder Connor Schilling delivered the big blow with a two-run double to left to drive in Jeffrey Williams and Shane Albertson. Matt McHale singled to left to drive in Schilling fir the third run of the inning.

"In the beginning of the year, head coach Scott Renauro said before the game, " We did not respond t adversity well. We would give up some runs and our offense would shut down. Lately, this team has built a belief that we can score some runs."

After Sean Cottrell held the Pride scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Eagles tacked on three more in the top of the fourth. The bottom of the order started the rally. Jason Hall, batting eighth, doubled to left and came home when Williams pulled a double down the right field line. Williams who pitched and played infield early on, came into 2021 with five career hits,  he has been flawless in the field at second base and has seven hits and six runs scored in his last four games.

Albertson singled to third and the duo moved over when Schilling grounded out to the right side. McHale drove in both with a flare to center. Albertson got a great read on the ball and nearly passed Schilling, who had to be sure, on his way to the plate.

Widener got one off Cottrell in fifth, but the rookie right-hander left in line to get his first collegiate win in the biggest of spots. Jake Jones picked up an RBI singles in the top of the sixth to give the Eagles an in top of the sixth to give the Eagles a big insurance run.

Widener came back with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth, but Steve Sattanino was able to get out of the jam with his side still up 7-6. Sattanino pitched a perfect seventh to keep the game moving. Williams and Albertson both walked to start the eighth, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize for more cushion.

After Sattanino walked the leadoff hitter in the eight, Renauro went to Mickey Foytik.

"Mickey came to me after the game yesterday and said 'Coach, I'll be ready'" Renauro said. " I kind of gave hime the 'ok Mick, we'll see, but he has the mentality to do it. He did not pitch like he wanted to yesterday, so there was some fire today."

Though he gave up a hit to right field to put runners on the corners, Foytik struck out two in the eighth to bring the Eagles back to the dish.

Liam Clarke started the ninth with a ringing double to the base of the scoreboard in left field. The senior now has 25 doubles in his career, all three of his doubles this year have come against Widener. Brad Clemens bunted to move him to third, but the Pride tried to throw back across the infield and Clarke scored what turned out to be a very important insurance run.

Widener got their fifth home run of the series to start the ninth. Bryce Fremgen homered to the deepest part of The Yard to close the gap to 8-7. After ground ball out, Pride catcher Nick Barenz reached on a ground ball deep in the hole. Clemens made a valiant effort and his throw was originally ruled to have beat the runner, but the home plate umpire intervened and said Clarke had come off the bag. A pinch runner moved into scoring position with one out, and the Widener bench, which made a lot of noise on the Fremgem homer, really came alive.

"He is our guy," Renauro said when asked if he thought about going to get Foytik and bringing Albertson on to close. "Once we started him in the ninth, I committed to the move. He was going to get us out of it, or he wasn't."

Foytik found another gear. He got the final two hitters swinging to pick up his first save as an Eagle.

Eastern last won a post-season game in 2015. They beat DeSales 11-10 in the opening game of the MAC Freedom Tournament. The last post-season win before that came in an elimination game against Wesley in 2000.

The eagles, who are 9-5 over their last 14 games, face a stiff test this coming weekend with a series against league-leading York. The two teams split two doubleheaders last weekend. Eastern was the only MAC Commonwealth team to beat the Spartans twice in the regular season. As with this weekend, the opening two games will be away for the Eagles.

Details for those games will be made available when they are available.